Hydraulic ram.



J. D. 61: W; H. WEAVER.

HYDRAULIC RAM.

APPLICATION FILED OOT.3, 1906.

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PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907.

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THE NGRRIS PETERS co, WASHINGTON n. z:v

No. 846,075. PATENIED MAR. 5, 1907.

J. -n.'& W. H. WEAVER.

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PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907. J. D. & W. H. WEAVER,

HYDRAULIC RAM.

APPLICATION FILED 001 .3, 1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

JOHN D. WEAVER AND WILLIAM H. WEAVER, OF BEAVERTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

HYDRAULIC RAM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 5, 1907.

Application filed October 3, 1906. Serial No. 337.228.

To (Ml w/tom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN D. WEAVER and WiLLIAM H. WEAVER, residing at Beavertown, in the county of Snyder and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hydraulic Rams, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relatesto new and useful improvements in hydraulic rams; and it pri marily has for its object to provide a ram of a very simple and effective construction in which the escape-valve mechanism is capable of various adjustments, so that the resistance to the closing movement of the valve may be varied in accordance with the volume, pressure, or head of water to enable a long, short, or intermediate stroke to be obtained.

Our invention also has for its object to provide an improved construction of hydraulic ram in which the escape-valve port can be increased or diminished in area to any predetermned degree, depending upon the volume of water in use.

Again, our invention has for its object to provide an escape-valve and cooperating mechanism therewith of such nature and character as to operate to cause a uniform and continuous operation of the ram, the entire parts being so arranged that they will quickly and effectively serve their intended purposes.

Our invention has for its object to provide an improved means for attaching the airchamber to the ram-bed so that the same can be removed for cleaning purposes or repairs, as may be desired.

Gencrically our invention resides in a ram having a water or ram chamber, at one end of which an air-chamber is removably held, the ram chamber or bed having a transverse partition beneath the air-chamber to form an inlet and exit channel to and from the airchamber, the inlet-channel being. controlled by a one-wayflap-valve. At the other end of the ram or bed chamber the inlet-pipe is connected, and the ram-chamb or is provided with an outlet or escape port, the size of which is controlled by an apertured valve-ring closable by an escape-valve that is mounted on one end of a balance-beam, which in turn is fulcrumed in bearings on a supporting member that is adjustably held on a stationary bracket connected to the ram-bed. The balance-beam is provided with an adjustingscrew and with a balance-spring and adjusting-screw therefor, the end of the balancespring cooperating with an adjustable anvil on an extension-bracket secured to the main supporting-bracket, that in turn is secured to the ram-bed.

The principal portion of our invention resides in the escape-valve and its controlling mechanism.

With other objects in view than have been heretofore specified our invention comprises certain novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, all of which will be first described in detail and then be specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view showing our invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section thereof, showing the position of the parts when the balance-beam is adjusted to have its fulcrum-shaft midway its ends. Fig. 3 is a detail longitudinal section showing theadjustment of the parts when the balance-beam has its fulcrum-shaft at the nearest point to the valve-rod. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a crosssection on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2, taken through the fulcrum of the balancebeam. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the valve-seat-holding plate of the ram-bed and its attached parts. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of a series'of valve-port seats, showing different-sized outlet-apertures. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the control-spring carriage and its attached parts] Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a modified form of our invention. Fig. 10 is a similar view of a further modification of our invention.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters and numerals of reference indicate like parts in all of the figures, 1 designates the ram-bed, which is preferably formed of a hollow cast-iron member having its inlet end closed by a cap-plate 2, which is provided with an inlet 2 for the operating or feed water. At the end opposite the inlet end the ram-bed 1 has its chamber crossed by a dam or wall 1 which divides the ram-chamber into the main chamber 1 and the outlet-chamber 1, which communicates at its bottom with the outlet or eduction port 1, to which the offtake-pipe 3 communicates. The inlet 2 communicates with the supply-pipe 4 from the source of water-supply which operates the rain. The ram-bed has an annular flap 1 at its rear and a seat 1 to receive a gasket 5, upon which the hollow bell 6, which forms the compression-chamber, is seated. The bell 6 is held on the ram-bed by a rod, which is secured in the dam or wall 1' and which projects through the bell top to receive the nut 6, washer 6 and ornamental ring and knob 6 and 6, respectively. The chamber portion 1 is in free communication with the bellchamber 6*, while the chamber 1 communicates with the bell-chamber 6* through a.

valve mechanism which comprises a valveplate 7 held over an aperture 1 inthe dam, a gasket 7 being interposed between the plate 7 a and the wall of the dam. The plate 7 a has ears 7, to which the flap-valve '7 is hinged. The flap-valve 7 has a heel 7 to limit its opening movement. The ram-bed casing has an air-chamber aperture 8, through which air passes to the reservoir to supply the air-chamber whenever necessary.

In practice it sometimes occurs that a spring or other source of pure-water supply is adjacent a running stream the power of which would be suflieient to force the springwater to the point of consumption, while the quantity of water in the springwouldbe i11- suflicient for the purpose. When such is the case, the impurer water of the spring may be made to 'force the spring-water to the point of consumption without waste by tapping into the chamber 1 of the ram-bed a feedpipe 7, which communicates with the spring and through which the water from the spring flows into the ram-chamber 1 in a constant stream, a check-valve 9 being introduced into the pipe 9 to prevent backflow at any time.

The ram-bed has an escape-opening 10, to which is fitted a valve-seat-carrying plate 11. The plate 11 is bolted onto the ram-bed by serew-bolts 11, an intervening washer 1.2 being provided to effect a water-tight joint. The plate 11 has a valve-seat aperture to receive the valve-seat ring 12, which has a bev eled edge 12 to seat on the beveled portion 11 of the plate 11 and which is screwed onto the annular ring 13, held in a socket portion 11 of the plate 11, a washer 14 being provided between the plates 11 and 12 and the ring 13.

In practice the valve-plates 12 are made with different-sized apertures 12 so that a plate having an aperture of the desired size may be used, the size of the aperture depending upon the volume and pressure of the opcrating-water.

15 designates a slotted arm secured at one end to the plate 11 and having a slot 15 to receive the screw-bolts 16 0'1 a bearing member 16. The bearing member 16 comprises a base-plate 16* through which the bolt 16 passes. From the outer ends of the plate 16 pillars or posts 17 project upwardly and terminate in halibearings 17 which cooperate with the bearing-caps 17 that are secured thereon. A shaft 18 is held in the post-bearings and passes adjustably through a balance-beam 19, as shown. The beam 19 is formed of a pair of parallel plates 19' 19 spaced apart at their ends by spacing-blocks 19 19, the spacing-block 19 at the front of the beam having a threaded aperture 19 as indicated, for a purpose presently explained.

The valve-stem 20 is secured to the balance-beamv 19 at its front end and projects through the valve-aperture in the valve-seat plate 14, the cone-shaped valve 20 being secured upon the stem 20*, as indicated.

The balance-beam 19 is provided with a plurality of apertures 10 to receive the pivotbearing shaft 18, before referred to, the shaft 18 being secured to the beam by nut-andscrew connection, as indicated. A spacingcollar 18 is provided on the shaft between the parallel bars of the balance-beam 1.9.

21 designates a sliding carriage that has grooves 21 to receive the bars of the balance-beam and which is secured on the balance-beam by a screw-bolt 22, having a collar 22 to engage the upper portion of the beam. The carriage 21 has a threaded aperture 21 to permit passage of the adjusting screw 22, which engages the anvil 22, as shown.

To the carriage 21 is secured a leaf-spring 23, whose front end engages with an adjustable anvil-head2i on a screw-rod 24*, that is ad iustably held in an extension member 25, that is screwed to the bracket 15 by a bolt and nut that passes through the slot therein.

The tension of the leaf-spring 23 is regulated by an adjusting-screw 26, that passes through a sliding earri age 26, which has slot portions 26 to receive the bars of the balance-beam 19, a nut-collar 26 being provided on the adjusting-screw 26 to lock the same in its adjusted positions. The rear spacing-block of the b al ance-beam 19 is provided with a threaded aperture 19 to receive the adjusting-screw when it is desired not to use the sliding carriage therewith. Likewise the front adjusting-screw can be passed through the aperture 19 in the front spacing-block of the balance-beam 19 when it is not desired to pass it through the spring carriage.

In-Fig. 9 we have shown a modified arrangement of our invention in which the valve-c ontrolling mechanism instead of being substanti ally horizontal may be held into a substantial vertical position, and in this form of our invention we have shown the leaf-spring adjusted into a different position than that shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, it being understood that when the spring is arranged for adjustment in the position shown in Fig. 9 that the extension-bracket must be longer than that shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 10 we have shown a still further modification of our invention in which the leaf-spring 23 is secured to the bracket member 15 and has its free end engaging an anvil bolt member on the balance-beam, the adjusting-screw being slidably mounted on the bracket 15, and the extension-bracket shown in the other figures of the drawing is omitted.

So far as described it will be seen that when connection is made with the spring water the purer water will fill the space from a point intermediate the escape-valve and the pipe that communicates with the spring to the eduction-pipe 3, While the impure water entering through the pipe 4 will not mingle therewith, and the force or head of both bodies of water is utilized in pumping the springwater from the spring.

In starting the operation of my invention it will be observed that the two bodies of water entering through the pipes 4 and the pipe 7 will both flow in the direction of the escapevalve; but owing to the superior volume of impure water a comparatively small propor tion of the spring-water will escape, but the inflow will be suflicient to prevent the impure water from passing beyond the pipe 7. The usual operation will then follow at regular intervals. The water rushing through the induction-port 2 into the chamber 1 will cause the escape-valve to close, while the fresh water will rush into the air-chamber through the flap-valve, and there compress the air until all pressure is exhausted, thereby causing dead or still water in the chamber 1 between the flap-valve and the escapevalves, since the dead or still water is of no kinetic force. The escape-valve will open when the flap-valve closes, and the com pressed air within the compression-chamber will force the water through the eductionpipe 3 until the compressed air within the compression chamber returns to normal pressure. allow a volume of water to flow, thereby causing a repetition of the operation just mentioned.

By reason of the adjustable features of the balance-beam and its bearing the leverage thereof can be varied, and by reason of the adjustable spring-carriage the tension of the leaf-spring can be likewise varied, and hence the operative mechanism of the escape-valve can be readily and easily adjusted to suit the different requirements of the diiferent users, it being understood that the adjustment of the balance-beam will vary with the force of the water and the quantity of the water available and as other conditions may require.

From the foregoing description, taken in The flap-valve will then open and l connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought the complete construction, operation, and numerous advantages of our invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains, and we desire to say that many slight changes in the detail construction, combination, and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is 1. An apparatus of the class described, comprising the combination with the ram bed and chamber having an inlet and an eduction port, and the compression-casing having a compression-chamber, of an escapevalve mechanism comprising a valve-seatcarrying plate securable over the escapeaperture of the ram-bed, a bracket projecting therefrom, an adjustable bearing member carried by the bracket, a balance-beam having a shaft mounted in said bearing member, a valve-seat plate secured to said carryingplate, a valve cooperating therewith and connected with the balancebea1n, and means for adjusting the operation of the valve, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a hydraulic ram, the combination with the ram-chamber, the compressioncylinder and the escapeport, of a valve mechanism for controlling said escape-port, said valve mechanism comprising a pivotallymounted balance-lever, a bearing for said lever and means cooperating with the bearing so that the bearing may be adjusted to various positions to vary the fulcrum of the balance-lever, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a hydraulic ram, the combination with the ram-bed and the compression-cylinder, of an escape-valve mechanism comprising a valve-seat removably held over the escape-aperture in the ram-bed, said valveseat having an aperture, a valve for closing said seat-aperture, a balancebeam to one end of which said valve is connected, a supporting-bracket, a bearing member adjustably secured thereto, a bearing-shaft for said balance-beam held in said bearing member, and means for adjusting the movement of said balance-beam, substantially as shown and described;

4. In a hydraulic ram, the combination with the ram-bed and the compression-cylinder, of an escape-valve mechanism comprising a valve-seat removably held over the es cape-aperture in the ram-bed, said valveseat having an aperture, a valve for closing said seat-aperture, a balance-beam to one end of which said valve is connected, a supporting-bracket, a bearing member adjustably secured thereto, a bearing-shaft for said balance-beam held in said bearing member, means for adjusting the movement of said balance-beam, and tension devices cooperating with the balance-beam, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a hydraulic ram, the combination with the ram-bed and the compression-cylinder, of an escape-valve mechanism comprisinga valve-seat removably held over the escaperaperture in the ram-bed, said valve-seat having an aperture, a valve for closingusaid seat-aperture, a balance-beam to one end of which said valve is connected, a supporting bracket, a bearing member adjustably secured thereto, a bearing-shaft for said balance-beam held in said bearing member, means for adjusting the-movement of said balance-beam, and adjustable tension de vices: cooperating with the balance-beam, substantially as shown and described.

6. An apparatus of the class described,

comprising the combination with the rambedand the"compressmn-cyhnder, said rambed and said. compression-cylinder having VLlVGCl'(301111111111102Lt1011, said ram-bed. having induction and eduction ports, and having an escape port, a valve-seat-carrying member detachably secured over said escapeport, an apertured valve-seat carried by saidczu'rying member and detachably connected thereto, a valve for closing said seat-aperture, said valve having'a stem projecting through said seat-aperture, a slotted bracket member secured to said carrying-plate, a supporting member having bearings and adjustably se cured to said'slotted bracket, a bala ncebeam having. a shaft mounted in. said support-bearings, means for adjusting the balance-beam shaft to various positions alongthe beam to vary its fulcrum, an extension-bracket secured to said first-mentioned bracket, an anvil secured to said extension-bracket, a sliding carriage adjustably'secured to said balance-beam, a*leaf-spring carried by the sliding=carriage to engage the extension-bracket anvil, means for adjusting the tension of said spring, and means for adjusting the stroke of I said balance-beam.

7. An apparatus of the classdescribed, comprising the combination with the ram bed andthe compression-cylinder, said rambed and said compression-cylinder having valved communication, said ram-bed having induction and eduction ports, and having an escape-port, a valve-seat-carrying member ing valve communication with the inlet-- chamber of the rambed, said ram-bed having an air-admitting aperture, and a supplemental induction-port and an escape-aperture, a valve-seat-carrying plate removably secured over said escape-port, an apertured valve-seat removably carried by said carrying-plate, a valve for cooperating with said valve-seat having a stem projecting through the aperture therein, a balance-beam secured to said valve-stem, a shaft carried by said balance-beam, a bracketprojecting from said ram-bed, a support having bearings to receive the balance-beam shaft and adjustably secured to said bracket, a sliding carriage mounted on said balance-beam, a leaf-spring carried by said sliding carriage, a second sliding carriage mounted on said balance-beam, means carried by the second sliding carriage for adjusting the tension of the leaf-spring, means for adjusting the stroke of the balance-beam, and means carried by the bracket for engaging the leaf-spring, substantially as shown and described.

9. The combination with the hollow rambed having. one end open, of a closure-cap for said open end having an induction-port, said ram-bed having a dam near the other end and an eduction-port, a compression-housing removably secured over said dam, and having valved communication with the inletchamber of the ram-bed, said ram-bed having an air-admitting aperture and a supplemental induction-port and an escape-aperture, a valve-sea-tcariymg. plate removably secured over said escapeport, an apertured valve-seat removably carried by said carrying-plate, a valve for cooperating. with said valve-seathaving a stem projecting through the aperture therein, a balance-beam secured to said valve-stem, a shaft carried by said balance-beam, abracket projecting from said rain-bed, a support having bearings to receive the balance-beam shaft and adjustably secured to said bracket, a sliding carriage mounted on said balance-beam, a leaf-spring carried by said slidingcarriage, a second sliding carriage mounted on said balance-beam, means carried by the second sliding carriage for adjusting. the-tension of the leaf-spring,

means for adjusting the stroke of the balance-beam, means carried by the bracket for engaging the leaf-spring, said balance-beam comprising a pair of parallel members and spacing-blocks secured between the ends thereof substantially as shown and described.

10. The combination with the hollow rambed having one end open, of a closure-cap for said open end having an induction-port, said ram-bed having a dam near the other end and an eduction-port, a compression-housing removably secured over said dam, and having valved communication with the inletchamber of the ram-bed, said ram-bed having'an air-admitting aperture and a supplemental induction-port and an escape-aperture, a valve-seat-carrying plate removably secured over said escape-port, an apertured valve-seat removably carried by said carrying-plate, a valve for cooperating with said valve-seat having a stem projecting through the aperture therein, a balance-beam secured to said valve-stem, a shaft carried by said balance-beam, a bracket projecting from said ram-bed, a support having bearings to receive the balance-beam shaft and adjustably secured to said bracket, a sliding car riage mounted on said balance-beam, a leafspring carried by said sliding carriage, a second sliding carriage mounted on said balance-beam, means carried by the second sliding carriage for adjusting the tension of the leaf-spring, means for adjusting the stroke of the balance-beam, means carried by the bracket for engaging the leaf-spring, said balance-beam comprising a pair of parallel members and spacing-blocks secured between the ends thereof, and said sliding carriages having grooves to receive the parallel members, substantially as shown and described.

1 1. The combination with the hollow rambed having one end open, of a closure-cap for said open end having an induction-port, said ram-bed having a dam near the other end and an eduction-port, a compression-housing removably secured over said dam, and having valved communication with the inletchamber of the ram-bed, said ram-bed having an air-admitting aperture and a supplemental induction-port and an escapeaperture, a valve-seat-carrying plate removably secured over said escapevalve, an apertured valve-seat removably carried by said carrying-plate, a valve for cooperating with said valve-seat having a stem projecting through the aperture therein, a balance-beam secured to said valve-stem, a shaft carried by said balance-beam, a bracket projecting from said ram-bed, a support having hearings to receive the balance-beam shaft and adjustably secured to said bracket, a sliding carriage mounted on said balance-beam, a leaf-spring carried by said sliding carriage, a second sliding carriage mounted on said balance-beam,

means carried by the second sliding carriage for adjusting the tension of the leaf-spring, means for adjusting the stroke of the balance-beam, means carried by the bracket for engaging the leaf-spring, said balance-beam comprising a pair of parallel members and spacingblocks secured between the end thereof, said sliding carriages having grooves to receive the parallel members, said spacing-blocks having threaded apertures to receive adjusting-screws substantially as shown and described.

JOHN D. WEAVER. WILLIAM H. WEAVER. itnesses CHAs. L. WETZEL, JOHN A. WETZEL. 

